Delaware State Police troopers, following up on an anonymous tip, have located a marijuana growing operation in a wooded area west of Wyoming.

Troopers went to the area, east of Almshouse Road and south of Westville Road at approximately 5:45 p.m. Monday and discovered 855 marijuana plants, weighing about 380 pounds, said division spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier.

The plants were growing in an area where trees had been cut and cleared, Fournier added.

An irrigation system had been set up using a gas-powered generator attached to a pump, which drew water from a nearby stream. Troopers also found tools, including shovels, hoes, a machete and a pickax, as well as two tents, sleeping bags and several articles of men’s clothing.

“Detectives are working to link all of the equipment we found to any potential suspects,” Fournier said, adding that investigators also will be interviewing the landowner.

Although he had no statistics with which to provide a comparison to similar operations, Fournier said drug unit investigators are calling the setup an important find.

“Marijuana plants require quite a bit of sunlight to grow,” he said. “The suspects had to cut down the trees so they could get sunlight in there and hooked up an irrigation system to hydrate the plants. It was a significant operation.”

Anyone with information about this operation is asked to contact Sgt. Hake at Troop 3 by calling (302) 697-4454, ext. 619. Tips also may be left by using the DSP Mobile Crime Tip app, available for download at www.Delaware.gov/apps.

Information also may be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333, via the Internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”